20 CARROT AND POTATO BEETLE. 



joints are shining red-brown, the others are dull piceous. 

 The thorax is as broad as the elytra at the base, the 

 sides are rounded and narrowed to the front, with the 

 anterior angles produced on each side of the head to the 

 front of the eyes ; the punctation is very close and 

 confluent, and there is a slight longitudinal line in the 

 centre. The scutellum is nearly semicircular, a little 

 broader than long, slightly punctured and shining. The 

 elytra are nearly straight at the sides, slightly broader 

 in the middle, and have nine impressed rows of large 

 deep punctures on each, the interstices are slightly 

 convex and finely punctured. The under side and legs 

 are rather closely punctured, shining, and with the 

 pubescence more sparse than on the upper side ; the 

 tibiae towards the apex and the tarsi are red-brown or 

 piceous. The length of the body is 8 9 millm. 



The genus Opatrum belongs to the Opatrides, a distinct 

 subfamily from the preceding ; nearly 150 species are 

 now known from various parts of the Old World ; they 

 are usually found in sandy and barren districts, and 

 often occur in great profusion. The only species found 

 in England (0. sabulosu?n) is very common on the coast 

 in sandy and muddy localities. 0. E. J. 



This beetle is reported by Miss Glanville to destroy 

 carrots in much the same way as Heteronychus arcttor 

 does the potatoes, also that it has been observed feeding 

 on the leaves of potato. 



It is noted of the Opatrum hadroides, Woll., the species 

 widely distributed in St. Helena, that it occurs beneath 

 stones, likewise that " Mr. Melliss mentions that he has 

 frequently observed it in great profusion on ploughed 

 fields at Longwood and in potato-grounds,"* which last 

 observation of locality agrees with the observation of 

 Miss Glanville regarding that of the above species, the 

 O. micans. 



* ' Coleoptera Sancta Helens;,' by T. Vernon Wollaston, p. 225. 



